Experiences elsewhere show neonics ban won’t hurt farms

Dairy farmer Rochelle Stein worried, in a July 21 commentary, that the Birds and Bees Protection Act would hurt New York’s small farms by increasing costs, raising the risk of crop failure and forcing farmers to use other methods that are even less environmentally sound. While we understand her concerns, we’d ask New York’s farmers to consider two facts: First, New York’s small farms already pay the price for wasteful neonic pesticide pollution. And second, other places have eliminated the largest and least justifiable uses of these neurotoxic chemicals without hurting crop production, causing price hikes, or increasing the use of more environmentally harmful practices.

Bee losses propelled by neonic use are already limiting production of top New York crops like apples and cherries. Newer research shows that global fruit and vegetable production is down 3 to 5 percent due to pollinator shortages. Lower yields alone mean lower profits and higher food prices.

What’s more, neonics have also made U.S. agriculture 48 times more toxic to insect life. Neonic contamination now infiltrates soil and water on a massive scale, eliminating insect predators that farmers count on for natural pest control, sometimes decreasing yields as a result. Neonics also harm soil health by killing insects and microbial life critical for capturing carbon and nutrient cycling.

The Birds and Bees Protection Act prohibits only neonic coatings on corn, soybean and wheat seeds in agriculture. Extensive scientific research compiled in Cornell University’s exhaustive report shows these uses provide no overall economic benefits to farmers.

That’s affirmed by the experience of farmers elsewhere: Europe prohibited these treatments 10 years ago, and Quebec and Ontario have effectively phased them out for the past five, yet production levels remain consistent, with no noticeable effect on prices in either the EU or Canada. Where switching has occurred, it has been simply to using no insecticide coating or to less environmentally harmful alternatives.

It’s also important to note that New York’s legislation contains mechanisms for state agencies to relax the prohibitions to protect farmers from possible financial hardship – though they likely won’t be needed.

Markets worldwide are moving away from harmful and unnecessary neonic uses. This legislation is strongly supported by the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York and by many small farms across the state. We hope Gov. Kathy Hochul will take the lead in protecting New York’s small farmers, health and environment by signing this bill into law.